Cats pip Galway to semi-final spot

Kilkenny 1-19 Galway 0-18

Kilkenny surged straight into the NHL Division One semi-finals after beating their chief rivals Galway at Nowlan Park.

The Cats overhauled Galway at Division 1B's summit but their third league win was far from easy.

Richie Power cracked over five first-half points but Kilkenny were left with a 0-12 to 0-9 deficit to overcome for the second half - Eugene Cloonan (0-2) and David Collins hit three late scores for Galway.

The second half saw Cloonan opt to point a penalty and that decision proved costly when Power and Eddie Brennan played in Eoin McCormack for Kilkenny's goal.